Middle East live: Paris talks aim to bolster Lebanese army as end of UN mission looms
European and Arab military chiefs meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss steps to bolster Lebanon's struggling armed forces as the mandate of a United Nations peacekeeping mission expires at the end of the year, amid fears of a renewed Israeli military campaign in southern Lebanon. Follow our live coverage for updates from the Middle East.
Images obtained by ABC News reveal extensive damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East following Iranian attacks, according to an inspector general's report. Buildings and an aircraft at three U.S. bases in Kuwait and a Saudi base housing U.S. assets have been struck by the conflict that began on February 28. The Pentagon is assessing the costs of the war, which has already cost over $33 billion, though estimates range from $33 to $38 billion.
Preemptive measures were taken to move personnel from vulnerable bases, but a senior service member told ABC News the damage would take "decades" to repair. The Pentagon has not disclosed the extent of the damage, but satellite imagery consistently captures the impact of Iranian strikes. A Defense Department official told ABC News the damage to the facilities would take "decades" to repair.
The deadliest Iranian attack occurred on the second day of the war, when six U.S. soldiers were killed at a largely unfortified location in Kuwait. Since the start of the war, 18 service members have been killed and 824 wounded. The Pentagon has downplayed Iran's offensive ability in the war, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that the U.S. prioritizes force protection but acknowledges Iran could penetrate defenses at times.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News (US)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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